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Leading change: Jennifer Bennett President of Shive-Hattery (Cedar Rapids, IA), a multi-disciplinary architecture and engineering firm that recognizes the power of design in transforming the human experience.
By SARA PARKMAN Senior Editor
I n November, Shive-Hattery announced the election of Bennett as president of the firm. Bennett joined the design firm in 2003 and has 25 years of experience in client service, talent development, and market growth. She has a structural engineering background and previously served as the vice president and office director of Shive- Hattery’s Quad Cities location. As president, Bennett is responsible for the overall leadership, strategic planning, culture, vision, and direction of current and future operations of Shive-Hattery. “In my view, leading change is the biggest challenge for all leaders, especially within our industry where so much change is occurring,” Bennett says. “Anticipating what impacts our firm while leading change within it is something I find challenging yet also fun. I derive a lot of energy from it.” A CONVERSATION WITH JENNIFER BENNETT. The Zweig Letter: Shive-Hattery announced you as
the firm’s new president last fall. What do you most attribute to this advancement? Jennifer Bennett: Strong relationships have been an important part of my personal and professional growth. Throughout my career, I’ve had great mentors who have encouraged me to take risks, challenged me to see things differently, and supported me when things get tough. My relationship-first value aligned strongly here at Shive- Hattery. Our culture is dedicated to building relationships which is why this firm has been a good fit for me to thrive. TZL: How has COVID-19 impacted your firm’s policy on telecommuting/working remotely? JB: We had successful remote workers and supported flexible schedules prior to COVID-19, and I’m sure we’ll continue to see that trend. Our challenge post-COVID-19 will be managing the right balance for our employees and our clients:
THE ZWEIG LETTER MAR
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